Holy City Hogs

A Rodney Scott protege's whole hog, pop-up turned permanent

Holy City Hogs is a barbecue restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina.

Holy City Hogs started as a 2019 pop-up and built a cult following faster than the pitmaster could scale up. He learned under Rodney Scott, and it shows: whole hogs cooked over live oak in the Pee Dee tradition, finished with a vinegar-pepper sauce that carries a clean, lingering heat. The permanent West Ashley shop still runs on pop-up logic — limited hours, limited supply, and a line that forms before the doors open on weekends.

The whole hog is the reason to arrive early, pulled from a hand-tended fire with the smoke worked all the way into the meat. The hash is made the old way, dense and savory, and the smoked ribs give a second reason to go. Collard greens round the plate. This is the next generation of South Carolina whole-hog cooking, rooted deep in the tradition but pushed by a young pitmaster who clearly wants to earn the lineage rather than coast on it.

• Style: Lowcountry / South Carolina Style
• Price: $$
• Neighborhood: West Ashley
• Serving since 2019

What to order

• Whole Hog Plate
• Smoked Ribs
• Hash & Rice
• Collard Greens

How it scores — 8.6/10 overall

• Smoke: 8.9/10
• Bark: 8.7/10
• Tenderness: 8.8/10
• Consistency: 8.3/10
• Value: 8.6/10
• Atmosphere: 8.2/10

Visiting

• Address: 1524 Sam Rittenberg Blvd, Charleston, SC 29407
• Phone: (843) 718-2267
• Website: https://holycityhogs.com

Hours: Thu–Sun 11am–7pm or sold out

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